What's in a Prague street name

No street sign today, as this still seems to be a construction site, and I’m too British to ask if I’m allowed in.

The first historically documented Duke of Bohemia was Bořivoj I, who ruled from about 867 until about 889 – more about him in Prague 3: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/01/14/prague-3-day-134-borivojova/.

Mythology tells us that there were seven Dukes of Bohemia before him, all descended from Přemysl, the founder of the Přemyslid dynasty, which would rule Bohemia until 1306.

Mnata was the second of these seven alleged dukes.

His name was first recorded in the Chronica Boemorum, by Cosmas of Prague – written between 1119 and 1125, this was a Latin-language chronicle which was the first such work to describe the history of Bohemia (and Moravia).

As ‘mníti’ is an old verb meaning ‘to remember’, it’s possible that Mnata was so-called because he had an excellent memory.

Another theory, put forward by the historian Záviš Kalandra (1902 to 1950; executed along with Milada Horáková), is that the seven princes were named after the days of the week, and Mnata, as number two, was linked to Mano, a god to whom Monday was dedicated (see also: German Montag and, of course, Monday itself).

On the other hand, chroniclers and historians failed to find anything to say (*cough* make up *cough*) about Mnata other than his name. Those who are a bit disappointed with this – I’m one of them – will be relieved there’s a much better mythological prince story coming up on day seven.